Position: Environmental Policy Advisor

Base: Freetown, Sierra Leone

Reports to: STEWARD Director

STEWARD is a USAID-funded biodiversity, climate change and sustainable livelihoods program managed by United States Forest Service-International Programs. Since 2009, it has supported efforts within the Upper Guinea Forest region (Guinea, Sierra Leone, Liberia, Cote d’Ivoire, and Ghana) to scale up best practices in community-based conservation, community forestry, sustainable forestry, market chains for key forest products, public-private alliances for conservation, and harmonized trans-boundary policies.  The goals include:

• ·         Conserve biodiversity and  improve rural livelihoods in critical trans-boundary landscapes
• ·         Produce harmonized policies and legal frameworks for NRM in a regional context
• ·         Contribute to national strategic plans on climate change in the Mano River Union states and promote resiliency in the face of climate change.
• ·         Share and exchange knowledge and information through communications products on key topics geared to specific local, regional, and international audiences
• ·         Develop regional capacity for climate change adaptation and mitigation
• ·         Improve Water Supply, Sanitation, and Hygiene in rural communities

STEWARD has begun its third phase (STEWARD III) with a four year program that works closely with partners and media specialists in the following priority zones: Outamba-Kilimi National Park/ Guinea’s Madina Oula, Soya, and Ouré Kaba sub-prefectures; Mount Nimba and Nimba Nature Reserve; and Taï National Park/ Grebo National Forest.

For more information on the STEWARD program, please contact the Director at steward.applicationsSL@gmail.com, or visit: http://www.frameweb.org/steward.htm

STEWARD’s policy-related work has been focused on working with the Mano River Union (MRU) to identify the obstacles faced by stakeholders in natural resource management and to assess the need for harmonization in legal and regulatory frameworks related to the management of wildlife and other natural resources.  The work plan of the MRU includes the following priorities:

• Elaborate and approve a trans-boundary biodiversity resources management policy by the authorities of the partner countries. Review and analyze existing policies/legislation for synergies and opportunities for cooperation.
• Propose and validate a sustainable trans-boundary biodiversity management legislation bill.
• Present the Management Plans for validation by the decision-makers.
• Validate the status of proposed Trans-boundary intervention zones.
• Prepare and transmit proposal for legislative enactment.
• Assure surveillance & enforcement (laws and regulations permitting mixed patrol) action.

STEWARD will continue working with the MRU to support this work plan and STEWARD’s own objective of promoting biodiversity conservation in the Upper Guinea Forest Ecosystem.  The Policy Advisor will assist in all areas related to policy harmonization/improvement and will work closely with the MRU and policy makers from all of the MRU countries (Guinea, Sierra Leone, Liberia, and Cote d’Ivoire) and Ghana to help establish and encourage enforcement of policies and legal frameworks related to sustainable management of forests, wildlife, climate change, and water supply.

The Policy Advisor will support the capacity building and development of policy makers within the region by working with the MRU to improve policy and legal frameworks for trans-boundary natural resource management (NRM), biodiversity conservation and climate change response. STEWARD III policy related work will support the ongoing assessment by the MRU on effectiveness of existing NRM laws, identification of needed improvements, and development of the appropriate processes to harmonize legal frameworks in order to promote trans-boundary conservation and protected area management and strengthen regional awareness on reducing deforestation and forest degradation (REDD+).

Primary responsibilities include:

• Promote on-going STEWARD collaboration with MRU to improve regional trans-boundary legal frameworks for NRM, biodiversity conservation and climate change
• Build on existing partnerships with regional policy makers through communication and workshop development
• Support the MRU in the execution and validation of their work plan in their respective countries
• Capitalize on knowledge and experiences of existing forest and wildlife policy planning initiatives in order to disseminate information to regional stakeholders

• Graduate degree in law/political science or other relevant field, required.
• At least eight years experience working on policy/regulations in forestry, natural resources, property rights, social, environmental safeguards, or climate change
• Strong background in legal analysis and reform
• Familiarity with biodiversity conservation and rural development, international cooperation, and trans-boundary protected area management preferred
• Experience working in West Africa
• Effective organizational and writing skills
• Excellent communication and inter-personal skills
• Experience working for or with the US Agency for International Development (preferred)
• Computer proficiencies required: Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Internet
• Fluency in English required; Fluency in French/English strongly preferred

Position is based in Freetown, but will require occasional travel to Cote d’Ivoire, Ghana, Guinea, Liberia, and Sierra Leone and possible travel to STEWARD’s field sites.

Normal working hours in the office are Monday to Friday: 9:00 AM – 5:30 PM (30 min break).  These work hours are a guide. The Policy Advisor must be able to work under pressure, produce results, and meet deadlines.

The applicant should submit:

-          A cover letter

-          An up-to-date curriculum vitae with the applicant’s contact information

-          Photocopies of diplomas, training certificates, work history, and other proof of accomplishments

-          Three references with their contact information

The applications should be submitted electronically to the attention of STEWARD Acting Director at the following email address: steward.applicationsSL@gmail.com

 Submission deadline: Friday, October 14, 2011.

-          Notification will be by telephone and e-mail.

-          Only short-listed candidates will be contacted.